Pick it up

What we do to Bella while she's sleeping.

Kate has been learning to pick her foot up. Bella's foot, that is. She won't touch her own. Or mine.

So funny when she is doing something that she finds funny but, not quite sure it's legal.

Such a goofy dog. 

With a very accommodating sister.

Hard to be otherwise, though, when this is your life!

Much better!

When all else fails, go to the dump Oyster Bay! 

 Freedom and a ball makes for much happier collie-types. 

I wish we could move all the east bay parks to the south bay. I get a little tired of driving, but the smiles are worth it. 

 

Freedom shouldn't be a novelty for anyone. Fuzzy short folk included. 

 

It is just a spectacular day. Feels very summer-y and vacation-y out. So many families out biking and walking this morning. I was really surprised that Oyster Bay was pretty empty. Maybe people were sleeping in today? 

 

Not complaining, though. The girls had a great time. It’s a little sad that it doesn't take as much to tucker them out anymore. Kinda nice, I suppose, just a…sign…you know? They used to do what we did today for hours and be completely fine. Now? Forty five minutes to an hour and we’re good to go. Of course it doesn't help that Kate is a total fatty right now. First time ever she weighs the same as Bella. Exactly the same, actually, which is weird in itself. They were both 34.2 at the vet last week. That’s an OK Bella weight. Kate? Holy cow! Literally…cow. That’s like 3 pounds heavier than normal. Not sure where that came from? The tricks class maybe? Maybe she is at that age where she doesn't need as much kib? 

Kate is on her first ever diet. Looks like a tick. 

We staycationed and no one cared

Does this look like a couple of dogs glad to be out and about? 

Enjoying our national parks? I mean, who doesn't love to go to Hollister? 

Maybe rather be at home in bed? 

Pinnacles was not their thing. Wasn't hot, but activities there with dogs in tow are very limited. I was surprised at how many campers had dogs. Do you just stay at your camp site all weekend since they can't be left unattended? That doesn't sound like much fun.

Every time I look at something like this I think about those nutty people coming out this way in wagons. What a crazy trip that must have been! 

I would have stayed in Kansas.

A blog post?!

 

I know! 

Just haven’t been up to hauling camera crap around as of late. It just feels like just the act of being out and being with the girls is enough. Like I don’t need anything else filling that time. Every time we leave, though, I think I should bring it. Then I don’t. Meh. 

We have mostly been doing the usual stuff. Ball, parks, hikes. Everyone is knock-on-wood healthy and just trucking along.

   

We just recently wrapped up an online class. We did Silvia’s puppy tricks class. I had been missing doing ”dog stuff” since Bella’s agility retirement. There weren’t any local classes that I was interested in. Most of the trick classes are stuff that they know already. No agility, obviously. Bella thinks obedience is the most boring thing on the planet. Walking in circles looking at me not her cup of tea. Plus, I would rather my dogs just look where they are going anyway. They did both like nosework but that organization is just too weird for me. So, give the online thing a shot. 

The type of tricks that Silvia teaches are quite different than the ones my dogs already know. Since she is prepping agility dogs, much more movement rather than static behaviors. I was surprised by the fact that Kate took to this much more readily than Bell. After alllll the agility stuff, the 2o2o training, the wobble boards, the curbs, all that crap…at eleven years old Bella still has no idea where her back feet are. Or, she knows and doesn’t give a shit at this point. Kate is very into doing anything with her feet and loves the movement involved. 

Who knew I had a dog that would so easily get into a box? 

 

We did just audit. After going through this, I can’t imagine actually participating. The video editing time would be overwhelming for me. 

 Silvia is obviously a brilliant trainer. Also a great instructor. Fantastic eye. Really good at redirecting people. She must never sleep as she seems to reply to people almost immediately even though her students are in every time zone. If you are interesting in giving the online class thing a shot I would recommend you try her. 

For myself, though? I don’t know that I would do it again. Maybe if someone local was also taking a class. Practice partner? One of the things I love most about classes is the interaction with other students. You learn so much watching others. Online? Holy crap! Watching video after video after video of people’s dogs doing the same thing over and over was mind-numbingly boring! It got the point where I could only handle 10 seconds of video before I was just over it. I do not have the time or patience for that. So not the same as an in-person class setting. I did like what I learned. Maybe not the optimum venue for me, though. 

So, maybe no more training, but even into the senior years they need stimulation to stay sane and healthy. You must keep the collies active and engaged. It’s important for them to feel useful. 

 

She does have a little trouble moving the weave poles, but that's just the kind of challenge she needs.